It seems to be so easy to tell others what they are doing wrong, what you wish they would do better and what you need them to do for you…that we overlook the important component of taking the time to let others know what we love and appreciate about them.

Think for a minute about the others that work with you. When was the last time that you shared with one of them a note of gratitude or a word of thanks? As a school principal, there were over a hundred staff members in my building. I often would tell myself that I should stop and write a note to a particular staff member, but my thoughts and intentions were often better than my actions. How could I, as a leader let those I work with know sincerely what it was that I specifically appreciated about them? How could I encourage other staff members to also take a minute to do the same?

Creativity and innovation - they get our attention. Students in classrooms want to be engaged and see creative and amazing lessons. Adults in meetings yearn for presentations that are more than a PowerPoint presentation being read aloud. Consumers are looking for something different that will catch their eye. Young women are hoping for a creative invitation to prom or for a proposal that is unexpected and breathtaking. Yet, if most of us were asked, we would say that we’re just not that creative.

While some may be more creative than others, I believe that everyone can become more creative.

Being creative may push you out of your comfort zone and your idea may flop. Erase the fear of failing. When a creative idea works, it is like igniting a spark and watching it turn into a blazing fire.

Many years ago I served in a school as a learning support strategist. One of my responsibilities was to share instructional strategies and encourage teachers in their profession. I was preparing my weekly newsletter and decided to focus on creativity. I started by encouraging teachers to choose a common object and think of all the ways it could be used instructionally in the classroom. Since it was October, I chose a pumpkin and came up with twenty ways teachers could use a pumpkin for instruction. In case you have an inquiring mind, here were the ideas: